AP151 - model 1851 Adams revolver. Dean Adams & Deane percussion revolver. Cased, with tools.
Cased Deane Adams and Deane model 1851 trigger cocking percussion 54 bore revolver, serial number 12489. Based on Robert Adams (then manager at George & John Deane’s manufactory) 1851 patent No.:13527 of 24th February 1851 for a self-cocking revolver. It has a 6½” sighted octagonal barrel; the top strap engraved 'Deane, Adams and Deane, 30 King William Street London Bridge', also engraved with an owners monogram F.S.C. and coat of arms,: the crest of which is "an arm in armour embowed, the hand grasping an arrow" and is a crest used by a number of families. According to the 4th edition (1905) copy of Fairbairn's Crests it notes it as being borne by a number of different families including: Carrie, Chaworth, Clarke, Cleghorn, Cotter, Cubit and Cubitt. The five shot cylinder also bearing the matching serial number and London proof marks, the frame is engraved 'Adam Patent' and bears a retailer name 'E & E Emanuel, Agents 101 High Street Portsmouth'. Emanuel Emanuel was the first Jewish mayor of Portsmouth (1866-1867) and his premises at 101 High Street were those of Goldsmith, jewellers and watchmakers (as well as diamond and pearl merchants) by appointment to HM the Queen and Prince of Wales; right next door to army and navy tailors all in the same building: one can imagine a your Naval or Royal Marines officer going there for outfitting. With his brother Moses, Emanuel operated as bullion and freight merchants, also storing large amounts of specie in their vaults.
The original oak case has the Deane, Adams, Deane maker's label to the inside with London Bridge address and annotated as gunmakers to HRH Prince Albert with coat of arms. Included in the case are C&J.W. Hawksley copper and brass powder flask, cleaning rod with jag, nipple key, turnscrew and a tin of Joyce percussion caps.
The revolver is in fair general condition and has a lot of original blue remaining. There are some very light rust spots dotted around as well as a patch on the barrel of heavier pitting; seen the images for detail. The bore has a crisp rifling pattern but there is some pitting within the grooves where they run up next to the lands. The cylinder is now bright and has some scattered old salt and peppering. Four of the five nipples move with the wrench, one does not although one suspects a little soaking will free up. The action works correctly and positively with good timing and excellent lock up. There are some scrape marks to the finish on the frame around the heads of two of the screws from an oversized screwdriver being used.
The case show signs of age and use but is structurally sound. There are lots of dents marks and stains. There is a chip to one lower corner and a split to one underside board. The linings internally have some sections which are not firmly fixed but are still affixed in place